Biomass Production and Logistics

The non-profit association Bioenergy Europe into “Statistical Report 2021” [3] estimates the 2019 total primary bioenergy consumption in EU (including heat, electricity and biofuels for transport) at 6.28 EJ. With reference to solid biomass only, the EurObserv’ER [43] puts the biomass-based primary energy consumption in the EU-27 at 3.95 EJ in 2019. The EU solid biomass production is estimated at 3.86 EJ. The wood pellets account for about 47% of the import, while the remainder is fairly evenly distributed between wood chips, firewood and other types of solid biomass. The main import sources are North America with 5.23 million ton (Mt) equal to 37.9% of imports, non-EU countries (4.72 Mt, 34.1%), Russia (2.67 Mt, 19.3%) and South America (1.04 Mt, 7.51%)[3].

In Italy, according to the Gestore Servizi Elettrici (G.S.E. spa) Statistical Report 2021 [5]estimates the electricity production from biomass at 1.7 Mtoe in 2019, considering a Time Weighted Average National Price of 52.1 €/MWh, with a total bio-electricity value estimated at around 1.01 G€ (billion euro) per year (based on gross energy price at plant delivery point). In 2019, the biomass final energy consumption into thermal sector in Italy was 0.027 EJ of which 96 % was represented by solid biomass used for heating in residential sector and an average customer heat price of 55 €/MWh. The biomass-based district heating market value was estimated at 358 M€ per year. The Italian Statistics Agency (ISTAT) reports a 2015 [7] residential heating consumption of 19.2 Mt of wood and pellet, of which 1.5 Mt of pellets. The total wood and pellet combined market value is estimated at 2.3 G€ (billion euro) per year, with Italy being the first pellet consumer in Europe. In its 2015 progress report, the Italy’s National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP 2015) [6] assesses the 2014 biomass supply for energy use from both domestic production and import: direct forestry wood biomass supply is 0.2 EJ and 0.02 EJ, respectively; indirect wood forestry biomass supply is 0.02 EJ and 0.04 EJ; and energy crop biomass supply is 0.06 EJ and 0.03 EJ. An additional biomass supply of 0.04 EJ and 0.066 EJ comes from domestic agricultural by-products and waste. In 2019, as is reported in G.S.E report [5], in Italy the electricity products from biomass was 19563 GWh (34% Solid biomass, 42% biogas and 24% bioliquids) while on the thermal sector, in 2019, the energy produced by solid biomass was 309472 TJ, 13005 TJ by Biogas and 2337 TJ by bioliquids.